ISLAMABAD – The federal government and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) reached out to opposition parties to bring them close amid high political temperatures, the sources said on Thursday.
The political consultations, they said, gained momentum amid developments surrounding PTI founder Imran Khan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also once again extended offer to opposition for table talks.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq invited Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders to his chamber for a meeting.
The meeting is expected to focus on the recent court order concerning Imran Khan’s transfer to a hospital.
The latest contacts come amid efforts by the government and PPP to engage opposition groups on parliamentary and political matters.
The discussions are also taking place against the backdrop of legal proceedings concerning Imran Khan and growing calls for implementation of the Supreme Court’s directives.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said the party would demand strict and complete implementation of the court’s decision regarding Khan’s hospital transfer.
Former PTI secretary general Asad Umar expressed hope that the renewed political engagement could lead to a positive development. However, he said the immediate concern remained Imran Khan’s health and that it should receive priority.
Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also stepped up political contacts with opposition leaders. On Wednesday, he met a delegation comprising opposition alliance chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas and other leaders.
According to PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, the PPP welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision and requested the opposition alliance to restore political contacts.
A statement issued by the opposition alliance said Bilawal Bhutto also requested the opposition parties to return to parliamentary committees. The alliance leaders told him that a decision on the matter would be taken after consultation with PTI founder Imran Khan.
PPP leader and former National Assembly speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf described contacts among parliamentary parties as a normal part of political activity.
